A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 1477 - 998: Naruse Mio’s Troubles (P3R is indeed more reliable than Azure Lane)

Chapter 1477: Chapter 998: Naruse Mio’s Troubles (P3R is indeed more reliable than Azure Lane)

The night had settled deep.

At this late hour, most people had already sunk into deep sleep.

But not everyone could find peace in slumber.

"Haah..."

Lying in bed, Naruse Mio stared blankly at the ceiling above her, letting out a sigh she couldn’t suppress.

A new identity, a new life—these things had all left her exhausted. But perhaps exhaustion was better, at least during busy times when distractions could help her forget her worries. Yet now, deep in the silent night, she couldn’t avoid pondering certain inescapable questions.

For instance, her relationship with Duanmu Huai.

To Naruse Mio, her connection with Duanmu Huai was nothing more than that of nodding acquaintances—a neighborly sort, at best. Yet now, because of her, this man had been dragged into the current turmoil. Not only did he exhibit no frustration or dissatisfaction, but he even went out of his way to help her handle the aftermath of everything: her parents’ funeral, the inheritance procedures, school transfer paperwork, and so on.

Not to mention he even moved houses...

Even if they were relatives, Mio felt this was asking far too much of someone. Let alone a man who was neither family nor friend—Duanmu Huai owed her nothing. The more he did for her, the more Mio felt guilty and indebted to him. What troubled her most was that she had no idea how to repay him.

She had once suggested giving him her inherited estate, but Duanmu Huai had flatly refused, saying, "I’m not so destitute that I’d take a child’s money." Beyond that, Mio truly had no other solutions...

"Ugh..."

Thinking about this, Mio suddenly shuddered as a fiery sensation surged within her body, compelling her to cover her mouth with her hand. At that moment, the heart-shaped collar-like pattern reemerged vividly on her neck.

A master-servant contract.

This contract’s curse was designed to activate whenever the servant felt they had betrayed their master or experienced guilt toward them. The type of curse depended on the magic power of the person who presided over the ritual.

And unfortunately, the master-servant contract back then had been established using the power of the Nightmare, Banriya...

"Ugh... ahh..."

Her body squirming, Mio bit down on her lip as her face flushed crimson. That scorching sensation was impossible to resist, leaving her confused and helpless. It was then...

"Oh my, Lord Mio, suppressing it like this is bad for your health, you know?"

Suddenly, a bright voice whispered in Mio’s ear. Turning her head, Mio found the silver-haired, childlike Nightmare grinning cheekily at her.

"Should I call Lord Duanmu over for you?"

"Y-You! This is all your fault!!"

Seeing Banriya, Mio’s anger instantly flared. Back then, she’d only agreed to this out of a moment of foolishness, swayed by Banriya’s deceitful persuasion to sign a master-servant contract. Look what had become of it now!

"Ahahaha, well, back then I wasn’t expecting this either..."

Faced with Mio’s scolding, Banriya responded with a slightly awkward smile. However, her tone quickly grew more serious.

"But Lord Mio, we can’t let this go on any longer. You must realize that whenever you feel guilty toward Lord Duanmu, the curse will activate! We have to solve this issue as soon as possible."

"B-But... he won’t even take my money..."

"Tsk, tsk, talking about money is just tacky, Lord Mio. Besides, I have a much better solution!"

"A... solution?"

Hearing Banriya mention a solution, Mio quickly refocused her attention on her. Banriya, in turn, pulled out a laptop, opening it and bringing up a website in front of Mio.

"What is this?"

Perhaps because Banriya had announced a solution, Mio’s mood temporarily improved, causing the curse’s effects to weaken slightly. Sitting up at last, Mio caught her breath as she stared at the website displayed on the laptop.

"A ’Waiting for God’ Website?"

"This is a website where runaway girls with nowhere to go reach out for help. Most have left their homes for various reasons, with no place to stay and little money. They post messages here, hoping some kind-hearted people will take them in."

"There’s really such a thing?"

Listening to Banriya’s explanation, Mio’s expression turned to one of utter bewilderment. As an ordinary high school girl, she’d never encountered such a thing before.

"But... how can strangers take in people with no money or anywhere to stay? Isn’t even affording a motel impossible..."

"Ah, Lord Mio, you’re misunderstanding something. Those girls aren’t entirely without assets."

Smirking mischievously, Banriya stretched out her finger and poked Mio lightly on the chest.

"They have their bodies, after all."

"H-Huh...?"

Stunned by the answer, Mio froze for a moment. The next instant, her face flushed scarlet.

"W-What!!!"

Panic-stricken, Mio scrambled backward, staring at the website in shock as if it were something venomous.

"W-Wait a minute, are you saying they use their bodies... Is that even allowed?!"

"Of course! If they’re out of money, then using their bodies to pay is just the same. The benefactor provides meals and shelter, while they, in return, offer services. Isn’t that fair?"

"Ugh... I-I can’t believe such a thing exists..."

As she kept staring at the website, Mio felt as if she’d just stepped into a New World. Suddenly, something seemed to occur to her. Nervously, she glanced back at Banriya.

"W-Wait, Banriya... you don’t mean I should do this with my uncle, do you...?"

"Absolutely!"

Banriya nodded emphatically.

"Lord Mio, you should understand your current situation. You’ve seen Lord Duanmu’s strength firsthand. To be honest, your circumstances are dire. We need a strong, dependable ally. Sure, Lord Duanmu has been kind to you so far, but that’s not enough. We need to tie him to us completely—to make him our shared destiny! The best way? For you two to deepen your relationship beyond mere friendship! This way, not only will your bond grow closer, but you also won’t have to keep agonizing about repaying him!"

"Aaaaah!!"

Mio’s face burned with embarrassment, utterly speechless. While it’s true she wanted to repay Duanmu Huai, giving herself away like this... it was too overwhelming!

Besides, Duanmu Huai looked way too intimidating. Mio had never in her life imagined she’d cross paths with a "Prince Charming" who looked like a fierce demon lord.

But before that, there was an even bigger concern.

"But... even if I agreed, Uncle probably wouldn’t..."

"Hmm, that’s a valid concern."

Banriya nodded thoughtfully. Through her observations, she’d realized Duanmu Huai was unexpectedly experienced when it came to relationships. Despite her attempts to seduce him, he’d shown neither haste nor weakness, responding with an air of practiced ease... It was entirely unexpected. Initially, Banriya had assumed someone with such a tough exterior was surely a lifelong bachelor.

If Duanmu Huai could hear her thoughts now, he’d probably swat this impish Nightmare loli on the backside for good.

Even if Naruse Mio made the first move, Duanmu Huai would likely refuse. After all, if he’d wanted to, the night they’d signed the contract would have been his prime opportunity.

But... Banriya always had her own plans.

"Leave it to me, Lord Mio! I have it all under control!"

"..."

Looking at Banriya’s confident expression, Mio felt an ominous sense of foreboding but eventually gave a reluctant nod.

After all... was there any other choice?

Unknown to both Mio and Banriya, Duanmu Huai slept on blissfully, unaware of their scheming. The only thing he noticed when he awoke was the uncharacteristic absence of the always-persistent Nightmare loli typically nestled naked under his blanket. He’d assumed she’d finally given up... Not that he could deny there was a certain charm in waking to a soft and adorable girl beside him.

"Yaaaawn..."

Pulling on his clothes, Duanmu Huai strolled out of his bedroom with a yawn and headed for the dining room. Usually, Banriya would have breakfast ready by now. In fact, even before entering, the enticing aroma of food greeted him... That cheeky Nightmare loli might be a handful, but she undeniably had excellent cooking skills.

"Morning."

Greeting the room with casual ease, Duanmu Huai took his seat at the table. A glass of milk promptly slid into view.

"Good morning, Uncle."

"Oh, Mio, good morn—PFFFT—!!"

Just as he was sipping the milk and about to return her greeting, the sight before Duanmu Huai sent the drink spraying from his mouth. Any lingering sleep vanished in an instant.

"W-What are you wearing?!"

And no wonder he was shocked. Standing before him, Naruse Mio wasn’t in her school uniform, nor her usual workout attire. Instead, she was clad in an overtly suggestive maid outfit!

The off-shoulder dress left her neckline exposed, with an ample amount of her chest on display. The skirt was so short it barely concealed anything, and the thigh-high stockings created an eye-catching Absolute Territory. Red-faced and visibly self-conscious, Mio stood mortified yet determined.

"Banriya, what’s going on here?!"

Turning sharply, Duanmu Huai glared at Banriya, who was cheerfully humming while whipping up breakfast in the open kitchen. Clearly, Mio would never do something like this on her own—this had the mischievous Nightmare loli written all over it!

"Oh my, Lord Duanmu, how could you accuse me?!"

Banriya spun around with a spatula in hand, grinning from ear to ear.

"This was Lord Mio’s idea, entirely voluntary!"

"Mio?"

"Y-Yes..."

Turning crimson, Mio stammered out a reply to Duanmu Huai.

"Uncle has done so much for me, and I haven’t been able to repay you. So, I thought... at least I could serve you as a maid..."

"Repay... I never asked for your repayment. Didn’t I say you don’t have to worry about these things?"

Clearly flustered by Mio’s answer, Duanmu Huai let out an exasperated sigh. Banriya, however, raised an eyebrow and pointed the spatula dramatically.

"Lord Duanmu! While your intentions are noble, gratitude must be reciprocated! And don’t forget, you and Lord Mio are bound by the master-servant contract. Every night, Lord Mio agonizes over how to repay you. The curse torments her to the point she can’t sleep soundly! Surely, you don’t want Lord Mio suffering further because of you?"

"That’s happening?!"

Surprised, Duanmu Huai turned to Mio. Embarrassed, she nodded faintly, her face glowing red.

Seeing her response, words failed Duanmu Huai momentarily. Eventually, he sighed and shook his head.

"Alright, fine. If this makes you feel better, we’ll try it for now."

After all, it was just one month. Come the next full moon, the contract could be terminated.